Eli

9One time in Shiloh, they finished eating and drinking. Then Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD's house.

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

NoteGod's house at Shiloh was like a very large tent. Eli sat by the door where people came in.

10Hannah was hurting deep inside. She prayed to the LORD and cried and cried.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

11She made a promise. She said, "LORD of hosts, please look at how sad I am. Remember me. Do not forget me. If you give me a baby boy, I will give him back to you for his whole life. No razor will ever cut his hair."

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

NoteA promise made to God was taken very seriously. Some people never cut their hair as a sign. It showed they belonged to God in a special way. The King James calls Hannah a "handmaid," which is an old word for a servant.

12Hannah kept on praying to the LORD. Eli watched her mouth.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

13She was praying inside her heart. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. So Eli thought she had been drinking too much wine.

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

NoteMost people back then prayed out loud. Praying quietly inside your heart looked strange to Eli.

14Eli said to her, "How long will you stay drunk? Put your wine away."

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

NoteDrunk means someone has had too much wine. It makes a person wobbly and hard to understand.

15Hannah answered, "No, sir. I am a woman with a very sad heart. I have not had wine or any strong drink. I have been telling the LORD everything inside me."

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Note"Strong drink" was a drink even stronger than wine.

16"Please do not think I am a bad woman. I have been talking to God because I am so sad and hurting."

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

NoteThe King James says "a daughter of Belial." That old phrase means a bad or worthless person.

17Eli said, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you asked him for."

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Note"Go in peace" was a kind way to say goodbye. It means "I hope everything goes well for you."

18Hannah said, "Thank you for being kind to me." Then she went on her way. She ate some food, and her face was not sad anymore.

And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

NoteThe King James says "find grace in thy sight." That was a polite way to say "please be kind to me."

24When Samuel no longer drank milk, Hannah took him with her. She brought a young bull, a basket of flour, and a skin bag of wine. She brought them all to the LORD's house in Shiloh. The boy was still very young.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

NoteThe King James says "one ephah of flour." An ephah was a measure, about enough to fill a big bucket. A "bullock" is a young bull, a large male cow. People carried wine in bags made from animal skin, because they had no glass bottles.

25They killed the bull as a gift to God. Then they brought the boy to Eli.

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

NoteKilling an animal was how people gave a gift to God. Part of it was burned, and part was eaten together.

26Hannah said, "Please listen, sir. As surely as you are alive, I am that same woman. I stood here beside you and prayed to the LORD."

And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

Note"As surely as you live" was a way of making a promise. It means "I am telling you the truth."

27"I prayed for this boy. And the LORD gave me what I asked him for."

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28"So now I give him back to the LORD. He will belong to the LORD his whole life." And they worshiped the LORD there.

Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

NoteThe King James says Hannah "lent" him to the LORD. Here it means she gave him for good, not just for a while.

11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. But the boy Samuel stayed and served the LORD. He helped Eli, a priest who served God at God's tent.

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

NoteRamah was the town where Samuel's family lived. God's tent was a big tent for worship. This was long before there was a temple building. A priest was a man whose job was to help people worship God.

12Eli's sons were worthless men. They did not care about the LORD at all.

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

NoteThe old words call them "sons of Belial." That was an old way of saying very bad men.

13Here is what these priests did to the people. When a man brought an animal to offer to God, the priest's helper came. He came while the meat was still boiling in the pot. He carried a big fork with three points.

And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

NoteTo offer a sacrifice was to bring an animal as a gift to God. Part of it was burned for God. Part was cooked, and the priests got a share. The family ate the rest together, like a party meal.

14He poked the fork down into the pan or kettle or pot. Whatever meat came up, the priest kept for himself. They did this to every Israelite who came to Shiloh, where God's tent stood.

And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

15The fat was supposed to be burned for God first. But even before that, the priest's helper came. He told the man who was offering, "Give the priest meat to roast. He will not take boiled meat from you. He wants it raw."

Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

NoteGod's rules said the fat had to be burned for God first. Only after that could the priests take their share. Eli's sons were grabbing the meat before God got his part.

16The man might say, "Let the fat be burned first. Then take all you want." But the helper would answer, "No. Give it to me now. If you will not, I will take it by force."

And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

17So the sin of these young men was very great to the LORD. Because of them, people hated bringing offerings to the LORD.

Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

18But Samuel served the LORD. He was only a boy. He wore a linen ephod, a plain vest worn by those who served God.

But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

NoteLinen is a soft cloth made from a plant. An ephod was a plain vest, like an apron with no sleeves.

19Every year his mother made him a little coat. She brought it to him when she and her husband came to give the yearly offering.

Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

NoteSamuel lived at God's tent, away from his family. His mother could only visit him once each year.

20Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife. He said, "May the LORD give you more children through this woman. She gave her son to the LORD." Then they went home.

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

NoteBefore Samuel was born, Hannah promised God something. She said that if she had a son, he would serve God all his life.

21The LORD was kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up serving the LORD.

And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

22Eli was very old now. He heard about all the things his sons were doing to Israel. He also heard that they slept with the women who served at the door of God's tent.

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

NoteSome women had jobs helping at the door of God's tent. Eli's sons treated these women very badly.

23He said to them, "Why do you do these things? All these people tell me about the bad things you do."

And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24"No, my sons. What I hear about you is not good. You are leading the LORD's people to do wrong."

Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.

25"If a man sins against another man, a judge can settle it. But if a man sins against the LORD, who can speak up for him?" But his sons would not listen to their father. The LORD had decided to put them to death.

If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

NoteTo speak up for someone means to stand beside them and ask for mercy.

26The boy Samuel kept growing. The LORD was pleased with him, and people liked him too.

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

27A man of God came to Eli. He was a prophet, someone who tells people what God says. He said, "The LORD says this: Long ago your family lived in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house. I showed myself to them plainly there."

And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

NotePharaoh was the name for the king of Egypt. Long before this, the people of Israel lived in Egypt as slaves.

28"Out of all the families of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests. They bring gifts to my altar. They burn sweet smoke and wear the ephod when they stand before me. I gave your family all the offerings Israel burns for me."

And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

NoteAn altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned. Burning sweet smoke means burning special spices that smelled good. Israel was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. One tribe, Eli's, did the priest work. Priests got a share of the food people brought. That was how they and their families ate.

29"So why do you push away the gifts and offerings I asked for at my house? You care more about your sons than about me. You grow fat on the best parts of my people's gifts."

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

NoteThe old words say "kick ye at my sacrifice." It is a picture of kicking a gift away like trash. "Grow fat" means they kept the best food for themselves.

30"So the LORD, the God of Israel, says this: I did say that your family would serve me always. But now the LORD says: That will not happen. I will honor those who honor me. Those who treat me as nothing will count for nothing."

Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

NoteWhen the old words say "thy house," they mean your whole family. That includes children and grandchildren, on and on.

31"Listen. The days are coming when I will take away your strength. I will take the strength of your father's family too. No man in your family will live to be old."

Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

NoteThe old words say "I will cut off thine arm." An arm was a picture of strength. Back then, living to be old was seen as a great gift.

32"You will see trouble at my house. Good things will come to Israel, but no man in your family will ever grow old."

And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

33"One man from your family will still serve at my altar. But he will bring tears to your eyes and pain to your heart. Everyone born in your family will die while still young."

And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

NoteThe old words say they will die "in the flower of their age." That means dying while still young and strong.

34"Here is the sign that this is true. It will happen to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Both of them will die on the same day."

And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

NoteA sign is something that happens to show a promise is true.

35"Then I will choose a faithful priest for myself. He will do what is in my heart and mind. I will give him a family that lasts. He will always serve the king I choose."

And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

36"Everyone left in your family will come and bow low to him. They will beg for a small piece of silver and a bit of bread. They will say, 'Please give me some job with the priests, so I can eat.'"

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

NoteThere were no coins yet. People paid with small pieces of silver that were weighed. Bowing low was how people showed great respect.

1The boy Samuel served the LORD, helping Eli the priest. In those days the LORD hardly ever spoke to people. Visions from God were rare.

And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

NoteA priest was a man who worked in God's house. He helped people bring their gifts to God. A vision is a special picture or message God gives someone. The King James says God's word was "precious" then. Here that means rare, like something you almost never get.

2One night Eli was lying down in his own room. His eyes had grown so weak that he could hardly see.

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3The lamp in God's house was still burning. Samuel was lying down inside, near the ark of God, the special chest kept in God's house.

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

NoteThe ark was a special gold-covered box. Israel kept it in God's house at Shiloh. A lamp burned there at night, like a small night light. It used olive oil instead of electricity. God's house then was a tent-like building, not a stone church.

4Then the LORD called out to Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am."

That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

Note"Here am I" is an old way to say "I'm here." People said it when someone called their name.

5Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." Eli said, "I did not call you. Go lie down again." So Samuel went and lay down.

And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, "Here I am. You called me." Eli answered, "My son, I did not call. Go lie down again."

And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

7Samuel did not yet know the LORD. God had not yet spoken to him before this night.

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

NoteThis does not mean Samuel had never heard of God. It means God had never spoken straight to him before.

8The LORD called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli understood. It was the LORD calling the boy.

And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9So Eli said, "Go and lie down. If he calls you again, say this: 'Speak, LORD. I am your servant, and I am listening.'" Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

NoteA servant is someone who works for another person. Samuel is saying he is ready to do what God says.

10Then the LORD came and stood there. He called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening."

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen. I am going to do something in Israel. Everyone who hears about it will be shocked.

And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

NoteThe King James says people's ears will "tingle." Tingle means a prickly, buzzing feeling. It is a picture for news so big it startles you.

12On that day I will do to Eli everything I said I would do to his family. I will start it, and I will finish it.

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13I told him I would judge his family forever. He knew what was wrong. His sons did very wicked things, and he did not stop them.

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

Note"Judge" here means to decide someone is guilty and punish them. Eli's sons were priests too, but they did very bad things at God's house.

14So I have made a promise about Eli's family. No sacrifice or gift brought to me will ever take away this wrong."

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

NoteA sacrifice was an animal given to God at his house. An offering was a gift of food or grain. People brought these to say sorry for doing wrong.

15Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD's house. He was afraid to tell Eli what he had seen and heard.

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

NoteGod's house had big doors that were opened each morning. Opening them was one of Samuel's jobs.

16But Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am."

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

17Eli said, "What did the LORD say to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God punish you if you hide even one word he said."

And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

Note"God do so to thee, and more also" was a strong old promise. It was a way of saying, "Tell me the truth, or else." People said it to make someone speak honestly.

18So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing. Eli said, "He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is right."

And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

NoteEli means God may do whatever God decides is right. Eli is not arguing with the message.